The Vagrant (1992 film)

Brooksfilms

Company type	Film production company
Industry	Film production
Founder	Mel Brooks
Parent	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

The Vagrant is a 1992 horror comedy directed by Chris Walas and executive produced by Mel Brooks under his Brooksfilms banner. The movie features Bill Paxton as Graham Krakowski, a financial clerk whose life spirals into paranoia due to a homeless man (Marshall Bell) occupying a nearby property.

Plot

Graham Krakowski, an average financial clerk, becomes increasingly convinced that a homeless individual camping close to his residence is stalking him. After having the man detained for public urination, the vagrant is soon released and appears to deliberately disrupt Krakowski’s life. As Krakowski suffers from sleepwalking episodes and disturbing dreams, he begins to doubt his own mental stability amid two murders, leading him to suspect his own involvement.

When Krakowski is arrested and tried for the homicide of his real estate agent—whose dismembered remains are discovered inside Krakowski’s refrigerator—he is ultimately found not guilty, partly due to the jury’s sympathy after his mother suffers a fatal heart attack while testifying in his defense. Subsequently, Krakowski wanders through several states, taking charge of a trailer park where he is accused of killing the owner’s guide dog.

Escaping from the trailer park, Krakowski discovers that the homeless man is actually a deranged ex-psychiatrist conducting a psychological experiment aimed at driving him insane. After the vagrant kills a pursuing police officer, Krakowski obtains photographic proof that leads to the vagrant’s demise. He receives rewards from various states where the vagrant was wanted for murder. Despite this financial gain, subtle indications suggest that Krakowski’s mental state remains unstable and that similar events might recur.

Cast

Actor / Actress	Role
Bill Paxton	Graham Krakowski
Michael Ironside	Lt. Ralf Barfuss
Marshall Bell	The Vagrant
Colleen Camp	Judy Dansig
Marc McClure	Chuck
Stuart Pankin	Mr. Feemster
Patrika Darbo	Doattie
Ken Love	Buzz
Mitzi Kapture	Edie Roberts
Derek Mark Lochran	Det. Lackson
Teddy Wilson	X-Rays
Mildred Brion	Mrs. Howler
Allan Berne	Mr. Polkowisz
Katherine Gosney	Mrs. Krakowski
Nick Young	Guard
Lance Brady	Sheriff

Production

Screenwriter Richard Jefferies originally penned the screenplay roughly ten years prior but paused work on it to pursue other projects. Interest from William Wesley led them to collaborate on the 1988 film Scarecrows. Revisiting and modernizing the script, director Chris Walas presented it to Mel Brooks, whose Brooksfilms had previously produced Walas's directorial debut, The Fly II. The movie was filmed on location in Phoenix, Arizona.

Release

With a limited theatrical run spanning one week across eight theaters, the film earned around $4,300 during its opening weekend and amassed a total box office gross near $5,900.

Critical reception

Critics generally responded unfavorably to the film. Johanna Steinmetz of the Chicago Tribune described it as "not remotely funny" but acknowledged it might gain cult status among select viewers. Entertainment Weekly assigned it a D+ grade, labeling it a "moronic, ineptly directed bummer" reminiscent of an unpicked episode of Tales from the Darkside.

Home media

In May 2017, the movie was made available on Blu-ray through Shout! Factory, followed by a release from Arrow Video in 2023.